Uttar Pradesh: 19-year-old Mohammad Nabeel uses WhatsApp group in Azamgarh to promote Al-Qaeda, recruits terrorists to do jihad, arrested

Mohammad Nabeel (Image via X)

On Saturday, 12th September, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested a 19-year-old Mohammad Nabeel from Azamgarh in connection with a case involving the terror recruitment and radicalisation of young people through social media platforms.

Nabeel, who lives in the Didarganj area, was using encrypted social media platforms and WhatsApp groups to bring young people together and promote the ideology of Al-Qaeda ideologue Anwar al-Awlaki, according to the ATS.

WhatsApp group used to recruit young people

Nabeel had created a WhatsApp group called “La Ghalib Illallah”, meaning “There is no victor except Allah”. Investigators said the group was being used to spread terrorist ideas, encourage members to become “mujahideen” and prepare them for “jihad”.

Police found that Nabeel had also shared books written by Anwar al-Awlaki and Maulana Asim Umar, who was the former chief of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

The investigation into the group’s chats found that Nabeel referred to members as “mujahideen”. Members also used code words while discussing their activities. According to the ATS, “trip” referred to jihad, “pen” to knives, “juice” to chemicals and “project” to plans.

The group had members from Jammu and Kashmir and other countries, police said. Nabeel was also collecting funds for activities being carried out in the name of jihad.

Bomb-making discussions found in another group

The ATS also found that Nabeel was a member of several other WhatsApp groups, including one named “Flames of War”. People from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia were among its members.

Investigators found conversations about bomb-making, videos linked to the process and discussions about procuring potassium nitrate, the ATS said.

Plans to travel abroad for training

According to the investigation, Nabeel was also planning to travel to Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh to receive training and work towards his objectives.

Intelligence inputs further indicated that Nabeel and his associates had discussed a plan to launch “Ghazwa-e-Hind”, described as a military conquest of India, in coordination with Pakistan when an opportunity arose.

Following the investigation, police registered a case against Nabeel under Sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 18 and 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Written by OpIndia Staff
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